A PICTURE OF NATIVE LIFE 



the trees and the myriad indefinable sounds that 

 together make up the stillness of a tropical night. 

 So noiseless is his approach that the giant form of 

 their quarry looms up almost before they are prepared 

 for him, but as he passes by, a few feet, maybe only 

 a few inches, away, they fire their arrows into his 

 side and then seem to melt into the bush as if by 

 magic. The stricken animal halts and then, turning, 

 dashes back, crashing through the jungle. Gradually 

 the sounds die away and silence once more reigns 

 supreme. But dawn rarely fails to reveal to the 

 eager searchers the dead body of the animal not far 

 away. A brush shelter is erected near by, their few 

 possessions are transferred from their last camping 

 place, and here they will remain as long as the meat 

 lasts. If they fail to kill they are compelled to 

 subsist entirely on roots and berries until success 

 again crowns their efforts. 



It is difficult for us to realise what such a life 

 means, surrounded as we are by all those things 

 which they lack and which civilisation has made so 

 easy of attainment ; but on that occasion, helped no 

 doubt by the picturesque surroundings in which the tale 

 was told, they drew such a vivid picture of their life, 

 revealing, unintentionally no doubt, all its hardships, 

 its excitements, and its primitive simplicity, that I 

 seemed to understand and appreciate it in all its 

 completeness. I was sorry when our conversation 

 ended and it was time to go to bed, but I determined 

 to renew it, if I could, on another occasion. 



All the following day was spent in examining and 

 mapping the country to the south of Marti, ac- 

 companied by the elder of the hunters, while the 

 other guide led the caravan to the nearest ford, 



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